Championship Sunday on Banana Bay

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Follow along with Ray Hanselman, Kenta Kimura and Bryan Schmitt as they make a final push late Day 4 of the 2022 SiteOne Bassmaster Elite at Harris Chain!
Follow along with Ray Hanselman, Kenta Kimura and Bryan Schmitt as they make a final push late Day 4 of the 2022 SiteOne Bassmaster Elite at Harris Chain!
Ray Hanselman began the final day leading the SiteOne Bassmaster Elite at Harris Chain, and he headed right back to Lake Harris’ Banana Bay where he has spent his entire week. He immediately began cranking scattered hydrilla and shell beds.
Ray Hanselman began the final day leading the SiteOne Bassmaster Elite at Harris Chain, and he headed right back to Lake Harris’ Banana Bay where he has spent his entire week. He immediately began cranking scattered hydrilla and shell beds.
Banana Bay has been crowded with Elite pros all week. On Championship Sunday, Hanselman only had to share water with Kenta Kimura (shown here), David Mullins and Bryan Schmitt.
Banana Bay has been crowded with Elite pros all week. On Championship Sunday, Hanselman only had to share water with Kenta Kimura (shown here), David Mullins and Bryan Schmitt.
Anglers have complained of a distinct lack of vegetation in many parts of the Harris Chain, but hydrilla was scattered throughout Banana Bay.
Anglers have complained of a distinct lack of vegetation in many parts of the Harris Chain, but hydrilla was scattered throughout Banana Bay.
Hanselman would crank, crank and then crank some more until he ran across a bass willing to eat.
Hanselman would crank, crank and then crank some more until he ran across a bass willing to eat.
Kimura was often within a cast or two of Hanselman.
Kimura was often within a cast or two of Hanselman.
While Mullins put a quick limit in the boat by switching from cranking to bouncing a plastic off the bottom, Hanselman stuck with cranking.
While Mullins put a quick limit in the boat by switching from cranking to bouncing a plastic off the bottom, Hanselman stuck with cranking.
The Elite pros weren’t the only ones looking for Banana Bay bass: There were a number of locals fishing the Lake Harris bay, as well.
The Elite pros weren’t the only ones looking for Banana Bay bass: There were a number of locals fishing the Lake Harris bay, as well.
After hours of working the bay, Hansleman popped up on plane and left for new waters.
After hours of working the bay, Hansleman popped up on plane and left for new waters.
I caught up with Kimura when he took a break from the main waters of Banana Bay to fish some lily pads along the banks.
I caught up with Kimura when he took a break from the main waters of Banana Bay to fish some lily pads along the banks.
Ten minutes later, he was back fishing the shell beds and scattered hydrilla patches.
Ten minutes later, he was back fishing the shell beds and scattered hydrilla patches.
Ten minutes later, he was back fishing the shell beds and scattered hydrilla patches.
Ten minutes later, he was back fishing the shell beds and scattered hydrilla patches.
Kimura adjusted several times to position himself to fish different sections of Banana Bay.
Kimura adjusted several times to position himself to fish different sections of Banana Bay.
His persistence paid off when he hooked up on a bass to add to the livewell.
His persistence paid off when he hooked up on a bass to add to the livewell.
Schmitt was working shell beds and hydrilla a bit farther back in the bay.
Schmitt was working shell beds and hydrilla a bit farther back in the bay.
He hooked up as soon as I pulled up to him.
He hooked up as soon as I pulled up to him.
The bass allowed Schmitt to add a few critical ounces to the five-fish limit swimming in his livewell.
The bass allowed Schmitt to add a few critical ounces to the five-fish limit swimming in his livewell.
And then it was back to work.
And then it was back to work.